By Tyson Rininger

Note: While normally not a newsworthy event, VX-9... formerly VX-4, was pivotal to the success of many of today's naval aircraft including the F-18 and the F-14 with the Pheonix launch system. Furthermore, many of the most famously painted aircraft belonged to VX-4....

While the Navy's VX-9 is not being completely decommissioned, the segmented squadron will no longer have a permanent home at NAS Point Mugu. For those who have admired unique and unusual paint schemes on military aircraft, Point Mugu and the former VX-4 Evaluators set the standards in creativity.

Some of the more memorable aircraft over the years included the "Spirit of '76" red, white and blue F-4, the stunning blue and gold 75th Anniversary of the Navy Phantom, the blue camo F-4, the all-red QF-4 special livery Phantom, the all-white Playboy Bunny F-4 and of course, the original Vandy-1 all-black Playboy Bunny F-4.

Established in New England in 1950, then moved to NAS Pax River one year later, Air Development Squadron Four was disestablished in 1951 due to a lapse in assigned projects. In 1952 VX-4 was recommissioned at Point Mugu to initially evaluate air launched guided missiles which later involved the inclusion of radar and doppler navigational systems. Throughout the years VX-4/VX-9 has flown the FJ-4, F3D, F7U, UC-45, F3H, F-4D, A-4, F-9F, T-33, QF-86, AV-8A, F-8, F-4, C-1A, F/A-18 and F-14.

VX-4 has also been home to some of the most unique aircraft in the Navy inventory. Such aircraft included the first F/A-18A's to enter active duty service as well as the first F-14A Tomcats. Flying high over the Pacific Missile Test Center (PMTC), the F-14 Tomcat first demonstrated it's unique capability of destroying 6 targets simultaneously with the Pheonix Missile launch system. VX-4 was also the recipient of various ex-Iranian F-14A's along with the very last F-14D to be built by the Grumman Corporation now known as the 2nd generation Vandy-1, Bu 164604.

In 1994, Point Mugu's VX-4 and China Lake's VX-5 combined to form the current VX-9 'Vampires'. The June 22nd ceremony marked the end of an era for Point Mugu and the Evaluators along with Vandy-1. Joining us at Point Mugu on this dreary, drizzly morning was an F/A-18F from the China Lake VX-9 Det. with a special addition... a freshly painted low-vis gray Bunny on the tail.

Will she become the next Vandy-1? Only time will tell.

Words of praise were spoken at the ceremony by Rear Admiral James B. Godwin III (pictured above), VX-9 Commanding Officer Captain Wade C. Tallman and VX-9 OIC, Lieutenant Commander Daryl J. Martis who was given the Meritorious Service Award during the ceremony for his work with VX-9 since taking over in June 2002.

Special thanks to LCDR Daryl 'Salty' Martis for his assistance over the past couple of months in keeping me current with VX-9's activities. Obviously, it wasn't the greatest of days to be capturing images worthy of note but it was weather symbolic of Mugu to say the least. Ushering in a new chapter of space travel on Monday the followed by the inevitable farewell of a good friend on Tuesday made for a very interesting contrast in aviation history.

FMI: www.navy.mil, www.tvrphotography.com